Bill > A04857

This bill, known as the "DREDGE Act" (Desludging Requirements for Every Designated Geographic Environment Act), requires state and local governments to develop and maintain regular dredging schedules for navigable waterways to ensure public safety, environmental protection, and economic sustainability. The legislation mandates that each municipality with a navigable waterway within its jurisdiction must create an annual dredging schedule and file it with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which will then publish these schedules on its website. If a waterway is managed by multiple government levels, those entities must collaborate and create a joint dredging agreement that outlines each party's responsibilities. The bill specifically addresses situations involving federal waterways that require state or local preliminary work, ensuring that such preparations are also scheduled and coordinated. For federal waterways or complex dredging projects, governments must develop collaborative schedules that are updated annually and made publicly accessible. The legislation acknowledges that emergency dredging work can occur outside the established schedules, providing flexibility for urgent maintenance needs. The bill's motivation stems from examples like the Browns River in Islip, which had not been dredged for 17 years, well beyond the recommended eight-year dredging interval.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4857